Lecture by Alan Chadwick in New Market, Virginia, 1979
Lecture 17.3, Plant Study: Ribes, The Currant, Part 1
An Introduction to Alan Chadwick's Lectures and a Glossary of Terms
Back to the Virginia Lecture Series Index Page
Contents of this Segment:
There are three different currants: the black, the red, and the white. Hybridization leads to weakness in varieties. The black currant is full of iron, and is used medicinally to heal any illnesses of the throat. Propagation of the currant. Fruits on last year's wood. Will overproduce new wands, so these must be removed. Pruning of the currant. Best to remove the centers. Will live for forty or fifty years. Strikes or cuttings from new wood are typically used to propagate, taken in the late fall. Does not require heat to produce roots. Currant is most often used in cooking, rarely fresh. Not finicky about soils, but must have good drainage. Slight shade is helpful because the direct sun can burn the fruit. Pruning of the black currant. (14:06)